]]>The Antrim Conservation District held a water quality training session for us on August 12. Tom Clement presented the chemical side of water quality testing. Sasha Bozimowski presented the macroinvertebrate portion of water quality testing. Here are pictures of the entire group learning about a multi-testing instrument, Dahlia Evans collecting macroinvertebrates in the Cedar River, and Tim Stoldt identifying the collected macroinvertebrates. Tim and Dahlia are our 2017 high school summer interns.

]]>Here is the report on the 2017 Sandbar Pollution Study, written by Becky Norris for the Three Lakes Association, the Torch Lake Protection Alliance, and the Elk-Skegemog Lake Association: Sandbar_2017_study_report

]]>CLMP Funding at Risk?http://3lakes.com/clmp-funding-risk/
Thu, 25 May 2017 12:53:33 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2550Each year, CLMP volunteers collect water quality data which is used in water resources management and protection programs. This program has been collecting data for Michigan lakes for over 40 years. Three Lakes Association has participated in this program continuously … Continue reading →

]]>Each year, CLMP volunteers collect water quality data which is used in water resources management and protection programs. This program has been collecting data for Michigan lakes for over 40 years. Three Lakes Association has participated in this program continuously since 2004. Our CLMP volunteers collect information on Lake Bellaire, Clam Lake and Torch Lake. You can find the reports for our lakes on our website: Cooperative Lakes Monitoring Program.

TLA has learned that the MDEQ funding for CLMP may be at risk. The existing contract with MLSA for the MiCorps (CLMP) program will be up in October 2018. As a result, the program is seeking positive feedback in support of the CLMP program in hopes of preventing the budget cut that would eliminate the program.

Here is the request we received from Jean Roth, ML&SA/CLMP Administrator, our contact for the CLMP program:

You can help! Your lake may have been in the program a long time, or you are new to the program, we need your input—for those lakes that have been in the program long term, how has the program helped your lake? — for those of you who are new—how do you hope the program will help your community and lake? We need your thoughts and support of the CLMP program. Please respond with a sentence or two or a whole paragraph plus, if you’d like. We need to hear how the CLMP program has benefited your lake, and the community around your lake. (For instance, I’m a volunteer monitor for the program too, and have been since 1994, for us it has given us a better sense of community, knowledge that what we do on and around the lake affects the health of our lake. It has made us all better lake stewards and more aware of our environment) you can respond directly to me or you can respond to Marcy Knoll Wilmes – Constitution Hall – Floor 3 South – 525 West Allegan Street, P.O. Box 30458 – Lansing, Mi. 48909 or her email is knollm@michigan.gov my email address is jroth@mlswa.org and my mailing address is ML&SA – P.O. Box 303 – Long Lake, Mi. 48743.

Your letter of support for the program may help to save it from an untimely demise.

]]>Help Wanted – 2017 Cladophora Surveyhttp://3lakes.com/help-wanted-2017-cladophora-survey/
Tue, 09 May 2017 16:55:29 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2533Dear Three Lakes Association Members and Friends: Cladophora is algae that has been found at various locations on Torch Lake, Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire. It is one measure of the overall water quality in lakes. Three Lakes Association has … Continue reading →

Cladophora is algae that has been found at various locations on Torch Lake, Clam Lake and Lake Bellaire. It is one measure of the overall water quality in lakes. Three Lakes Association has performed this survey in the past in 2010, 2004 and 1983.

The Three Lakes Association is planning to do another shoreline Cladophora survey around all 62 miles of shoreline, including Torch, Clam, and Bellaire lakes. The last survey was done in 2010 (2010 Cladophora Survey), so it is timely to do another one this summer. We hope to complete the entire survey within the last three weeks of July, 2017. In order to accomplish this task, we will need some help. Listed below are a number of needs that we ask you to consider helping us with. Please complete the attached form, Cladophora_volunteer_request_form (Word) or Cladophora_volunteer_request_form (PDF), by including your contact information and marking the box(es) for any of these items you are able and willing to help us with and send this back to me so I can draft a schedule of activities.

Participate as a volunteer to carry out the survey:

By boat or wading, estimate the size (length and breadth) of any Cladophora patches and filament length of the algae.

Record on the field notes the Cladophora patch size estimates, GPS location, and description of site, e.g. house color, drainage pipe, whatever distinguishes the property.

Photograph the Cladophora patch.

When required, collect samples of algae and / or water.

Provide equipment – life jackets, paddle boards, kayaks, canoes, rowboats for use of field volunteers.

Provide sites for lake access:

Launch and pull out of water craft, overnight onshore storage of watercraft.

Rest stop and picnic stop opportunities.

Provide transportation of paddleboards or kayaks to launch sites or from pull out sites.

Provide transportation and parking for volunteers.

Drive water samples to the lab in Traverse City.

Unable to help this time.

If you have questions, please call Becky Norris at 231-599-2894 or email at norrisrebe@torchlake.com. Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Please return your completed form as an email attachment or by US Postal Service at 6022 Aarwood Rd NW, Rapid City, MI 49676.

]]>2017 TLA Summer Intern Program Applications now being accepted!http://3lakes.com/2017-tla-summer-intern-program-applications-now-accepted/
Tue, 25 Apr 2017 23:14:51 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2529It’s time to be thinking about the Three Lakes Association’s 2017 summer high school environmental internship. Interested high school students from the Bellaire, Central Lake, Kalkaska, and Mancelona school districts may apply. They are expected to contribute at least 60 … Continue reading →

]]>It’s time to be thinking about the Three Lakes Association’s 2017 summer high school environmental internship.

Interested high school students from the Bellaire, Central Lake, Kalkaska, and Mancelona school districts may apply. They are expected to contribute at least 60 hours of volunteer time, to participate in the scientific activities of the Three Lakes Association, to prepare a report of their project, and to make a presentation of their work to the Three Lakes Association Board and to their school board. In return, in addition to the fun they will be having during the summer activities, they will receive a ½ credit on their school transcript for environmental science and will also receive a stipend of $500 for their efforts. At the end of the program we will issue individual letters acknowledging each student’s participation.

]]>Suspended sedimenthttp://3lakes.com/suspended-sediment/
Fri, 14 Apr 2017 15:08:31 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2516very fine soil particles that remain in suspension in water for a considerable period of time without contact with the bottom. Such material remains in suspension due to the upward components of turbulence and currents and/or by suspension. Perlman, U. … Continue reading →

]]>very fine soil particles that remain in suspension in water for a considerable period of time without contact with the bottom. Such material remains in suspension due to the upward components of turbulence and currents and/or by suspension.

]]>Ripraphttp://3lakes.com/riprap/
Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:02:08 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2512Heavy stones used to protect soil from the action of fast-moving water. True restoration tries to eliminate or minimize the use of riprap, using plants with strong root systems to anchor soil instead (e.g. willows). The use of riprap can … Continue reading →

]]>Heavy stones used to protect soil from the action of fast-moving water. True restoration tries to eliminate or minimize the use of riprap, using plants with strong root systems to anchor soil instead (e.g. willows). The use of riprap can lead to many detrimental effects, including increasing water volumes and flow (which leads to flooding and bank erosion), and constricting stream channels (which exacerbates flooding)

]]>Antidegradationhttp://3lakes.com/antidegradation/
Wed, 05 Apr 2017 14:32:20 +0000http://3lakes.com/?p=2509Part of federal water quality requirements. Calls for all existing uses to be protected, for deterioration to be avoided or at least minimized when water quality meets or exceeds standards, and for outstanding waters to be strictly protected. Glossary of … Continue reading →

]]>Part of federal water quality requirements. Calls for all existing uses to be protected, for deterioration to be avoided or at least minimized when water quality meets or exceeds standards, and for outstanding waters to be strictly protected.